Well, there’s no easy way to say this, so here it is: I’m leaving Westgate at the end of this school year. I’ll be teaching English and coaching basketball at my neighborhood school, Pomona High School. It’s bittersweet.  

I have the utmost confidence in our high school, our teachers, community, and our students. You are strong beyond measure and the institution is stable and vibrant because of you. It’s the perfect time for me to move on.  

I love Westgate today. I loved it yesterday. I will continue to love Westgate and am proud of my years of joyful service to it. It has been a professionally redeeming experience for me and one I don’t take for granted. I’m leaving entirely to pursue opportunities that Westgate, by virtue of model, geography, and philosophy cannot provide. These are institutional constraints, not failings. Westgate can’t, and shouldn’t, provide a basketball program, and that’s not a failing. Westgate can’t situate itself within my neighborhood a relaxing walk from my back door, which, naturally, isn’t a failing. Finally, since I’m not interested in administration, Westgate can’t offer opportunities for me to grow as a union teacher, which, again, isn’t a failing. I’m content and grateful. You will find me beaming from the front row at the next three graduations. 

As we transition out of this year, we’ll take the time to meet with students and as a community. We’ll circle up, like we always do. Mr. Brinkley and Mr. Cuevas will be here in support, as will Ms. Washington and Mrs. Novak. So will I. Anyone is welcome to email, call, schedule a conference or just drop by if they need anything. I’m still in service. And I’ll probably need a hug.  

 

Best, 

 

Micah Sturr 

We will finish the final two layers of Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun this week and wrap up the unit with some story telling. 

We'll complete level three of the Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun this week. 

We'll do level II -- Indigenous Understanding -- of Disobedience of the Sun. 

Weekly Update 4-8-19 

This week is testing week in the high school. If you don’t have testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, stay home and work on your college classes.   

• Monday – regular classes 
• Tuesday – SAT for 11th grade  
• Wednesday – PSAT for 9th and 10th 
• Friday – CMAS Science for 11th  

We will finish the first layer of meaning in Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun, create our own oral responses, and then jump into the second layer of meaning. 

We started our non-linear note taking for Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun last week and we'll continue working on it this week as the story of the Sun and Grandmother Moon's beautiful Tall Girl unfolds. 

We'll start our oral story unit with Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun. We'll talk about our own families, cultural roles, and layers of meaning. 

We only met once last week so we'll finish Slaughterhouse Five this week, complete our timelines, and do our final writing piece for the novel. 

We'll read and discuss Slaughterhouse Five but because we don't have class on Friday, there won't be a writing assignment this week. 

Chapters 5 and 6 of Slaughterhouse Five. Writing on Friday.

We'll keep reading Slaughterhouse Five and adding to our timelines. On Friday we'll do our first writing on the novel so be sure to be done through chapter five. 

We'll read through chapter 4 of Slaughterhouse Five and begin mapping Billy Pilgrim's journey on our timelines. 

Weekly Update 12-17-18 

 

Finals Schedule! 

Monday, December 17th is a full day for all 9th-11th grade students (and 12th grade students who have Westgate classes). Finals will take place on Tuesday, December 18th and Wednesday, December 19th. Your student only needs to attend school during his or her final. Yes, you read that right! If your student only has one final on Tuesday, they only need to come to school during that one final! If your student needs to stay at school, we have supervised study rooms available all day. Thursday, December 20th is a half day for all students. Students needs to attend school on Thursday, December 20th from 8:00am-11:30am.  

  

 Please see the Final Schedule below and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.  

  

 High School Fall 2018 Semester Finals Schedule 

Tuesday, December 18th 

8:00am-10:00am 

• English 9 – Ellis 
• US History – Sturr 
• Geometry (Juniors Only) – Cuevas 
• Study Room – Brinkley 

10:00am-12:00pm 

• World People Studies – Sturr 
• Spanish 1 – Brinkley 
• Study Room - Cuevas 

1:00pm-3:00pm 

• Humanities – Sturr 
• Spanish 3 (1:00-2:00) - Spanish Cultures (2:00-3:00) – Brinkley 
• Algebra 2 and Geometry (10th Grade) – Cuevas 
• Study Room – Ellis 

Wednesday, December 19th 

8:00am-10:00am 

• English 10 – Brinkley (sub proctor) 
• Government – Sturr 
• Biology 11 – Ellis 
• Study Room - Cuevas 

10:00am-12:00pm 

• Biology 10 – Ellis 
• English 11 – Sturr 
• 9th Grade Math Classes (Alg1, Alg2, Geo) – Cuevas 
• Study Room – Brinkley 

1:00pm-3:00pm 

• Business Math – Cuevas 
• Spanish 2 – Brinkley 
• Earth Science – Ellis 
• Study Room – Sturr 

 

• Thursday morning is our annual holiday celebration.     
• Battle of the Bards, our Shakespeare festival and culmination of our theater units in English 11 and English 9, has been moved to the afternoon of Monday the 17th to accommodate all our students. Parents, families and guests are welcome to join us for a fun afternoon of student performances in our very own tiny globe theater.    

 

From our assistant principal, Amanda Novak: 

I am excited to announce that we are instituting Coffee Talks for our High School parents, guardians, students, and community. Throughout this school year, I have received parent feedback that our community may benefit from occasional gatherings intended to inform and encourage discussion, perspective, and input.  As we continue to build our High School culture, it is important that you are part of this process. 

 

Our first Coffee Talk will be held during Winter Conferences - details below - and will cover basic changes and concerns in the High School this year. There have been questions about new procedures, systems, agreements, and more. We are opening the table for authentic discussion, so join us! After our first meeting, we will host Coffee Talks during Quarters 3 and 4 around topics such as Vaping, Substance Abuse, Mood and Emotions, and more (if you have any great ideas, please send them my way!). We will host some talks in the morning, some right after school, and some in the evenings. We know you are busy people and we want to accommodate you the best we can. Please consider joining us, and as usual, do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.  

 

What: Coffee Talk - High School Basics (Systems, Procedures, General Concerns, all the things)  

When: Thursday, December 20th at 6:00pm 

Where: In the High School Community Space 

There will be coffee! 

 

• Remember, if you have any questions on high school events or issues, your first stop is with your advocate, followed by the team lead, Mr. Sturr, and then on to the appropriate administrator.